Blitzboks the big MVP winners after making Hong Kong Sevens history

RugbyPass SVNS Series writers will review each tournament this season with their MVP votes. Finn Morton, Joe Harvey, Nick Wasiliev and Ben Smith weigh in with 3-2-1 votes towards the RugbyPass Men’s and Women’s SVNS Series MVP leaderboard.

Shilton van Wyk has returned to top spot on the RugbyPass Men’s SVNS Series leaderboard after polling five votes at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, starring as the Blitzboks claimed their first-ever crown at the fan favourite event.

Van Wyk and Fiji’s Vuiviwa Naduvalo shared the lead for MVP honours after the regular season, having been the two clear standouts across the six SVNS 1 events. But the start of the new-look HSBC SVNS World Championships opened the door for more drama.

There had been a seismic change on the standings at SVNS Vancouver earlier this season, with van Wyk leapfrogging Naduvalo after polling full votes from the four RugbyPass writers. But Fiji’s try-scoring phenomenon did enough to regain a share of the lead at SVNS New York.

South Africa had taken out the SVNS 1 regular season title by winning four of the six events, but that saw one chapter close this season. There’s still more silverware to be won and history to be made; the chance for someone to prove they are the best of the best.

The Blitzboks started their quest for a maiden Hong Kong Sevens title with a hard-fought 12-7 win against SVNS 2 qualifiers Uruguay, before falling to Spain 31-12 in their second pool match. South Africa secured their place in the quarters with a 38-0 demolition of Argentina.

Martiniano Arrieta was shown a red card during the first half, and the regular season champions made the most of their one-man advantage. Van Wyk was among the try-scorers, getting on the scoresheet in the eighth minute.

Meanwhile, Fiji had flown through the group stage with a flawless 3-0 record. Fiji started their campaign with a relentless 42-5 triumph over Germany, before getting the better of Great Britain and France in two closely fought contests.

Siviwe Soyizwapi was the hero for the Blitzboks in a 26-22 thriller against Kenya, crossing for the quarter-final match-winner in the final play. That set up a date with the All Blacks Sevens in the semi-finals, with van Wyk and Tristan Leyds scoring in the 26-14 statement win.

Fiji had fallen to Argentina in the quarter-finals, seeing them left to battle for fifth-place. South Africa faced Argentina in the Men’s Cup Final, with Selvyn Davids touching down for a double in the history-making 35-7 triumph.

Leyds was rewarded with Player of the Final honours, while Ryan Oosthuizen and van Wyk were among the try-scorers. The regular season champions started their World Championship Series in style and multiple standout performers had led the way.

Leyds received three votes from three of four RugbyPass writers, with Ben Smith recognising van Wyk as the Men’s Player of the Tournament. Davids and Oosthuizen also polled votes, reflecting just how dominant the Blitzboks were.

Van Wyk received five votes to take an outright lead, with Naduvalo not scoring any. Leyds was the big mover on the leaderboard, now just six points shy of a share of the lead after polling a mammoth nine votes.

Next up, the HSBC SVNS World Championships heads to Valladolid on May 29 to 31. It’s the second-last stop of the season, with Bordeaux hosting the finale in early May.

These events will determine the World Championship winners, which eight teams have earned core status for the 2026/27 season, and which four teams are instead left to work their way back up to the top from SVNS 2.

RugbyPass SVNS Series MVP 3-2-1 votes – Hong Kong China

Finn Morton

Men: Tristan Leyds (South Africa), Ryan Oothuizen (South Africa), Jeremy Trevithick (Spain)

Women: Risi Pouri-Lane (New Zealand), Maddison Levi (Australia), Jorja Miller (New Zealand)

Joe Harvey

Men: Tristan Leyds (South Africa), Shilton van Wyk (South Africa), Santiago Vera Feld (Argentina)

Women: Risi Pouri-Lane (New Zealand), Jorja Miller (New Zealand), Tia Hinds (Australia)

Nick Wasiliev

Men: Tristan Leyds (South Africa), Marcos Moneta (Argentina), Tobias Sainz-Trapaga (Spain)

Women: Jorja Miller (New Zealand), Tia Hinds (Australia), Lili Dezou (France)

Ben Smith

Men: Shilton van Wyk (South Africa), Selvyn Davids (South Africa), Ryan Oosthuizen (South Africa)

Women: Risi Pouri-Lane (New Zealand), Jorja Miller (New Zealand), Maddison Levi (Australia)

RugbyPass Men’s SVNS Series MVP leaderboard

Shilton van Wyk (South Africa) – 26 votes
Viwa Naduvalo (Fiji) – 21 votes
Tristan Leyds (South Africa) – 20 votes
Terio Veilawa (Fiji) – 13 votes
Ryan Oosthuizen (South Africa) – 12 votes
Luciano Gonzalez (Argentina) – 9 votes
Akuila Rokolisoa (New Zealand), Selvyn Davids (South Africa) – 8 votes
Brady Rush (New Zealand) – 6 votes
Dietrich Roache (Australia), Paulin Riva (France), Ricardo Duarttee (South Africa), Eduardo Lopez (Spain), Wallace Charlie (Australia) – 4 votes
Donovan Don (South Africa), Marcos Moneta (Argentina) – 3 votes
Nacani Boginisoko (Fiji), Kele Lasaqa (New Zealand), Jeremy Trevithick (Spain) – 2 votes
Pilipo Bukayaro (Fiji), Andy Timo (France), Rob Rush (New Zealand), Ben Dowling (Australia), Henry Hutchison (Australia), Santiago Vera Feld (Argentina), Tobias Sainz-Trapaga (Spain) – 1 vote

RugbyPass Women’s SVNS Series MVP leaderboard

Jorja Miller (New Zealand) – 51 votes
Kelsey Teneti (New Zealand) – 26 votes
Maddison Levi (Australia) – 25 votes
Risi Pouri-Lane (New Zealand) – 14 votes
Isabella Nasser (Australia) – 11 votes
Teagan Levi (Australia) – 9 votes
Jazmin Felix-Hotham (New Zealand), Olivia Apps (Canada), Tia Hinds (Australia) – 4 votes
Madison Ashby (Australia), Kaylen Thomas (USA) – 3 votes
Mahina Paul (New Zealand) – 2 votes
Hanako Utsumi (Japan), Reapi Ulunisau (Fiji), Maya Stewart (Australia), Jaymie Kolose (New Zealand), Su Adegoke (USA), Lili Dezou (France) – 1 vote